The Plot

Question 1

When is An Inspector Calls set?

Answer 1

Set 1912 - before the Titanic sank

Question 2

What are the Birlings and Gerald celebrating before the Inspector comes round?

Answer 2

Before the Inspector comes round, the Birlings & Gerald are celebrating Gerald and Shelia’s engagement.

Question 3

What does Arthur Birling give a speech about to Eric & Gerald?

Answer 3

Arthur Birling gives a speech about business to Eric & Gerald

Question 4

Why does an Inspector turn up? What is his name?

Answer 4

Inspector Goole turns up to say that a woman called Eva Smith has killed herself by drinking disinfectant.

Question 5

Inspector Goole questions everyone in the dining room that evening, one by one, except one person. Who?

Answer 5

The Inspector doesn’t question Edna, the maid.

Question 6

Why did Mr Birling sack Eva Smith?

Answer 6

(Arthur) Mr Birling sacked Eva Smith because she went on strike, after he denied her a pay rise.

Question 7

What did Eva Smith do after losing her job at Mr Birling’s factory?

Answer 7

After losing her job at Mr Birling’s factory, Eva Smith got a job at Milwards - a higher class clothes shop

Question 8

How did Eva lose her job at Milwards?

Answer 8

Eva Smith lost her job at Milwards because Sheila Birling got her fired out of jealousy.

Question 9

What did Eva change her name to?

Answer 9

Eva changed her name to Daisy Renton

Question 10

What does Eva/Daisy do after losing her job at Milwards?

Answer 10

Eva/Daisy turns to prositution after losing her job at Milwards.

Question 11

How does Gerald know Eva/Daisy?

Answer 11

Gerald meets Eva/Daisy in a bar during the summer, where he feels sorry for her, gives her temporary lodgings & sleeps with her.

Question 12

What does Gerald do after the summer?

Answer 12

After the summer, Gerald breaks off the relationship & Eva/Daisy has to leave the lodgings.

Question 13

Where did Eva go 2 weeks before her death? What does she call herself?

Answer 13

2 weeks before her death, Eva goes to a charity that Mrs Birling works for, calling herself “Mrs Birling”

Question 14

Why does Eva/Daisy/”Mrs Birling” ask for help? Who does Mrs Birling blame?

Answer 14

Eva/Daisy/”Mrs Birling” asks for help because she is pregnant & her “husband” has deserted her. Mrs Birling blames the father of the baby.

Question 15

How does Eric know Eva?

Answer 15

Eric met Eva in the Palace Bar, where he was drunk, raped her and she became pregnant.

Question 16

Name 2 things Eric does to try and help when he finds out Eva is pregnant.

Answer 16

Eric tries to give Eva money stolen from Mr Birling’s offices. He also offers to marry her.
She denies both.

Question 17

What does the Inspector give a big speech about?

Answer 17

The Inspector gives a big speech about claiming responsibility for all our actions.

Question 18

In his speech, who does the Inspector say there are millions of out there?

Answer 18

In his speech, the Inspector says there are millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths out there.

Question 19

Which characters are dynamic and which are static in An Inspector Calls? Why?

Answer 19

Eric & Shelia - dynamic because they change and recognise their wrong doing

Mr & Mrs Birling - static because they don’t change or recognise their wrong doing, claiming everything is fine

Gerald - a bit of both because he feels bad but also believes everything will be ok

Question 20

What is the aftermath once the Inspector has left?

Answer 20

Once the Inspector has left, the Birlings and Gerald believe he wasn’t a real inspector. Then the police call because a police inspector is coming round to ask some questions, because a girl has just killed herself with disinfectant.